With first division sides resting for international matches this weekend, the spotlights were on the second division. Celta extended their lead at the top of the table with a 0-1 win over Málaga B on Saturday night, a relief for Fernando Vázquez after their home defeat against Cádiz the week before. Jandro and Sava could both have put the Galicians ahead early on, but Fininho missed a couple of chances near to the break for José María Bakero's side, putting a first effort just wide of the post and then shooting straight at keeper Orlando Quintana when free in front of goal. The visitors scored what was to be the only goal of the game though on the hour mark when Nagore picked up substitute Jesús Perera's pass to beat Goitia from close range, and his side could have increased the lead if the keeper had not been on top form.

Meanwhile Alavés moved to within a point of the top three pending Sunday's games after defeating struggling Terrassa 0-2. The Catalans should have been ahead at the break, Maikel in particular failing to convert three or four chances against a confident Bonano. But Rubén Navarro scored for the visitors against the run of play on the half hour mark after a quick passing move, and his side could have been two up after Nené was brought down in the area by Cristian on the stroke of half time, Morales saving the resulting penalty from the Brazilian winger. Bodipo made it two though on the follow up after the keeper had kept out a header from Sarriegi ten minutes in to the second half, and the locals were left with ten men in the end after Endika Bordas was sent off for a second bookable offence. (26.03.05)

Cádiz moved back up to second place in the table after beating Racing Ferrol 2-0 on Sunday evening. The Andalusians had only won one of their last five home matches at the Carranza stadium, but they got off to a strong start, Pavoni bringing a good save out of Bello Amigo early on. And with just over a quarter of an hour on the clock a quick passing move ended with Enrique setting up Jonathan Sesma to score the opening goal. Before the break they were two up, Fleurquín finishing off following Enrique's corner, and Suárez could have made it three when he headed just wide in the opening minutes of the second half. Mario came close to pulling one back when his lob was cleared off the line by Oli with keeper Armando beaten, but only a great save by Bello Amigo near the end prevented Enrique from making it three. It was a seventh defeat in a row for the Galicians, who ended the weekend just a point off the relegation spots.

Eibar drop to third following a 1-1 draw at Ciudad Murcia, a result which keeps them three points ahead of fourth placed Alavés. Both goals came early on, Güiza opening the scoring in the fourth minute with a header after Luciano had played on Garitano's free kick, and the Basque side equalising through Garitano from Oskitz's corner a quarter of an hour later. Güiza's strike was his seventeenth of the season, taking him to second place in the Pichichi table behind Ferrol's Bermejo, but he should have had more in the second half as Iraizoz and Manuel cleared two of his efforts and the striker put a third just wide.

Elche missed out on a chance to close up on the promotion spots after they were held to a 3-3 draw by Gimnastic Tarragona, and they had to settle for fifth place in the end. The visitors started strongly, and Cuéllar headed them in front in only the fourth minute. Nino headed an equaliser from Ismael's cross with a quarter of an hour gone, but Cuéllar brought a good save out of Unanua before Tortolero headed home a corner three minutes after the restart. Local manager Uribe made two changes early in the second half, and one of his substitutes Moisés made an immediate impact with a goal just minutes after coming on. Igor Angulo restored the lead for the Catalans ten minutes from the end though, but Nino levelled the scores for the third time a minute later.

Recreativo also lose ground after losing 1-0 to Poli Ejido, the result ending their run of four away wins in a row. The locals played most of the match with ten men after Carlos García was sent off in the seventeenth minute for bringing down an opponent as he advanced on goal, and the visitors came close to taking advantage when Uche went close and Xavi Jiménez fired a shot against the bar. Uche shot just wide again after the restart, but gradually his side ran out of steam, and Luque and his defence had to clear efforts from Corona and Víctor Salas. And with a draw on the cards, Pedro Vega got the winner with a well struck free kick in the fourth minute of injury time.

Ejido's neighbours Almería climbed out of the relegation spots above Terrassa and Murcia with a 0-1 victory at Valladolid. Both sides came in to the game desperate for a win, the hosts having only taken two points from their last five matches and the visitors having gone nine since they last took the three points. Youngster Ortiz was making his debut for Sergio Kresic's side and should have opened the scoring in the second minute when he shot wide with the goal at his mercy, and the manager suffered another blow when his top scorer Aduriz limped off just seventeen minutes after returning from a long injury. But Sahnoun hit the bar at the other end with a free kick, and a few minutes later headed what was to be the only goal from another long free kick by Soria. And it could have been worse had the referee not ruled out a strike by Luna for a borderline offside near the end. The defeat meant that Valladolid ended the weekend ten points off the top three, and a couple of days later their management decided that Kresic had to go.

Elsewhere Tenerife and Lleida shared the points in a 1-1 draw which takes both clubs safely up to mid-table. The Canary Islanders took control right from the start, with Hidalgo shooting wide on two occasions in the opening minutes and Rangel saving a couple of efforts from Cristo and then from Keko. Five minutes in to the second half the home side got the goal they deserved when Keko picked up a pass from Cristo to beat the keeper, and Hidalgo should have made it two a few minutes later when he tried to score himself rather than pass to Keko, who was better placed. Up to that point the Catalans had hardly had a shot at goal, but with twelve minutes to go substitute Lezaun latched on to a pass from Sergio to beat Alvaro, the first goal the keeper had let in in almost 650 minutes.

Bottom side Pontevedra recorded only their second home win of the season after beating Xerez 2-1, although they still remain eleven points away from salvation. Vázquez got on the end of a cross from Charles to head in the first goal in the twelfth minute, and Capdevila and Fede Bahón both had to chances to extend the lead before the interval. The visitors were awarded a penalty though when Yobo brought down Mena midway through the second half, the Nigerian defender getting himself sent off for the foul, and Mena himself stepped up to equalise from the spot. However Changui restored the lead five minutes later after keeper Julio Iglesias pushed out a previous effort to give his side a valuable win and leave the Andalusians without a point in their last three games.

Córdoba's revival took another step backwards after they could only draw 0-0 at home to Sporting Gijón to finish the day just four points ahead of Pontevedra. Crispi's side had the better of the game early on, Txiki and Montenegro going close, but local keeper Saja had to be at his best to keep out Pablo Alvarez later in the first half. The Andalusians had a Montenegro strike ruled out for offside after the restart and Ruano put another chance over the bar. But shortly after Cristian Díaz headed wide at the other end it was all over and both sides had to settle for a point.

Real Murcia fall back down to twentieth spot after losing 3-1 against a direct rival for the drop, Andoni Goikoetxea's Salamanca. The locals went ahead in the twelfth minute when Jaime finished off after Brit played on Chupri's cross, but only a minute later Carrera set up Varela for the equaliser. The away side could have gone in front when Karanka had a goal disallowed for offside on the stroke of half time, but Chupri restored the lead for the hosts after the break, following up after Olave could only push out a deflected Cañas free kick. Tom had to save from Carrera at the other end soon afterwards, but after Murcia were left with ten men when Marañon was sent off for a foul on Rogerio, Brit latched on to a pass from Jaime to wrap things up. Salamanca have now picked up seven points since Goiko took over three games ago. (27.03.05)